System and method for collecting clinical data associated with a medical apparatus including an implantable device

ABSTRACT

A system and method for collecting operation data associated with a medical apparatus including an internal device implanted in a subject and an external device that is magnetically-coupled to and drives the internal device. The medical apparatus may be monitored to obtain raw data associated with the operation of the medical apparatus and one or more calculations may be performed on the raw data, wherein the raw data and/or calculated values may be associated with voiding frequency and voiding volume of the subject. A report may be generated from the raw data and/or calculated values. In addition, one or more signals may be sent to the external device and/or a docking station, or communicated by other means, to indicate to the subject that the operation of the medical apparatus should be altered.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 15/837,909, which was filed on Dec. 11, 2017, by Kevin M.Connolly et al. for a SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR COLLECTING CLINICAL DATAASSOCIATED WITH A MEDICAL APPARATUS INCLUDING AN IMPLANTABLE DEVICE,which is itself a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.14/747,479, which was filed on Jun. 23, 2015, now patented as U.S. Pat.No. 9,839,373 on Dec. 12, 2017, by Kevin M. Connolly et al. for a SYSTEMAND METHOD FOR COLLECTING CLINICAL DATA ASSOCIATED WITH A MEDICALAPPARATUS INCLUDING AN IMPLANTABLE DEVICE, which is itself acontinuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/712,478, which wasfiled on May 14, 2015, by Kevin M. Connolly et al. for a SYSTEM ANDMETHOD FOR COLLECTING CLINICAL DATA ASSOCIATED WITH A MEDICAL APPARATUSINCLUDING AN IMPLANTABLE DEVICE, the contents of all of which are herebyincorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a medical apparatus, and particularlyto a system and method for collecting clinical data associated with amedical apparatus including a device implanted into a subject's bodythat is magnetically-coupled to an external drive magnet.

Background Information

Routine voiding (i.e., discharging urine) is necessary for good health.However, certain subjects (e.g., patients) with impaired detrusorcontractility (IDC) cannot contract the muscles required to push any orall of the urine out of the bladder. Such subjects may utilize a medicalapparatus to assist with voiding. Specifically, the medical apparatusmay include an internal device (e.g., pump) that is implanted in thesubject that controls urine flow and an external device having a drivemagnet mounted for rotation external of the subject's body. The drivenmagnet of the internal device inside the subject is rotated bymagnetic-coupling with the drive magnet of the external device. Theexternal driven magnet of the external device may be rotated, forexample, by the subject holding down a button (i.e., activator) on theexternal device, which in turn causes the driven magnet of the internaldevice to rotate. The subject may hold the button down for a certainperiod of time that causes the subject to void or discharge urine.

Since many subjects utilize such medical apparatuses while living attheir homes and without medical supervision, the subjects may be at anincreased risk of bladder-related diseases or conditions. Specifically,if a subject does not void frequently enough or if the subject do notcompletely empty the bladder by voiding for a long enough period oftime, the subject may be at an increased risk of overflow urinaryincontinence, urinary tract infections (UTIs), urosepsis and renalreflux. Accordingly, providing information associated with the voidingbehavior of a subject (e.g., voiding frequency and voiding volume) to amedical professional may help prevent and/or limit the bladder-relateddiseases or conditions in the subject.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments described herein provide a system and method that collectclinical data associated with a medical apparatus including an internaldevice implanted in a subject/patient and an external device that ismagnetically-coupled to and drives the internal device. Specifically,the magnetically-coupled internal and external devices may be monitoredto obtain raw data associated with the operation of the medicalapparatus. Such raw data may be associated with a voiding frequency anda voiding volume and include, but is not limited to, the number of timesa button of the external device is pressed, and the length of time thebutton of the external device is held down for during a voiding session.

In addition, one or more calculations may be performed on the raw data.Specifically, the length of time (e.g., seconds) may be multiplied bythe device flow rate (e.g., normally 15 cc/second) to determine thevoiding volume. Further, an estimated average flow rate value and anestimated real-time flow rate value may be calculated. In addition, thecalculated value may be adjusted in order to account for the fact thatthe subject may hold down the button for a longer period of time thannecessary. One or more reports may be generated from the raw data and/orcalculated values that may be utilized by a medical professional (e.g.,physician or nurse) interested in observing and analyzing the voidingbehavior of the subject. In addition, one or more signals may be sent tothe external device and/or a docking station (utilized to charge theexternal device) to alter the manner in which the subject operates themedical apparatus. For example, the signal may cause the docking stationto sound an alarm every time the subject is to void, thus ensuring thatthe voiding frequency of the subject is sufficient. Further, signals maybe sent to a mobile phone or other computing device. In addition, thesignal may cause a light to illuminate on the external device indicatingthat the user should hold down the button for a longer period of time,thus ensuring that the desired voiding volume is achieved by thesubject.

Advantageously, the voiding behavior of a subject may be monitored by amedical professional without requiring interaction with the subject,where the subject can be informed to alter his voiding behavior based onthe analysis of the raw data and/or calculated values. As such, thehealth of the subject may be maintained or improved.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention description below refers to the accompanying drawings, ofwhich:

FIG. 1 is an environment of a medical apparatus utilized for one or moreembodiments described herein;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the environment for one or more embodimentsdescribed herein;

FIG. 3 is a report generated from raw data and/or calculated values forone or more embodiments described herein;

FIG. 4 illustrates a procedure for obtaining clinical data associatedwith a medical apparatus for one or more embodiments described herein;

FIG. 5 illustrates a procedure for obtaining clinical data associatedwith a medical apparatus for one or more embodiments described herein;and

FIG. 6 a procedure for obtaining clinical data associated with a medicalapparatus for one or more embodiments described herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1 illustrates environment 100 with an valve-pump mechanismarrangement of an external device and an internal device in accordancewith one or more embodiment described herein. As illustrated, aninternal device 102 (e.g., artificial pump) is implanted in the urethraof a subject 104, for example, a female as depicted in FIG. 1, in orderto promote the flow of urine from a non-contractile bladder thatrequires drainage. It is noted that internal device 102 may be implantedat a particular location and may also be designed and dimensioned basedon subject 104 to provide optimum torque. Although reference is made toa female subject, it is expressly contemplated that the device may beutilized with a male subject. Implanted internal device 102 includes adriven magnet mounted for rotation by a drive magnet included within anexternal device 106 (e.g., the portable unit) that is external tosubject 104, wherein the drive magnet and driven magnet may bemagnetically-coupled. External device 106 may include a button 108 orother mechanism/activator to cause the drive magnet of external device106 to rotate. Specifically, to void, subject 104 sits on a toilet (notshown) and holds external device 106 over the lower pelvic area andpresses button 108. Pressing of button 108 magnetically activates thedriven magnet of internal device 102 that may spin, for example, at10,000 RPM, and drains the bladder. When button 108 is released, a valveof the internal device (not shown) is engaged, blocking further urineflow. It is noted that the drive magnet and the driven magnet may rotateabout the same axis (e.g., the two rotary axes are collinear) asdescribed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,575,158 and 3,810,250, or may rotate aboutdifferent axes as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,762,599.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an environment 200 for one or moreembodiments describe herein. Environment 200 includes internal device102 that is implanted in the subject's body that includes driven magnet202. In addition, environment 200 includes external device 106 includingdrive magnet 204, a memory 206, a battery 207, button 108, a processor208, and one or more network adapters 210 interconnected by a systeminterconnect 212, such as a bus. Memory 206 may include storagelocations for storing software program code and data associated with oneor more embodiments described herein. Processor 208 and adapters 210 mayinclude processing elements and/or logic circuitry configured to executethe software code and manipulate the data stored in memory 206.Specifically, processor 208 may include processing elements and/or logiccircuitry to collect raw data associated with the operation of externaldevice 106 and internal device 102.

For example, processor 208 may track of the number of times button 108is pushed where the number of times is related of voiding frequency. Inaddition, the processor may track the length of time button 108 ispressed where the length of time is related to voiding volume. Forexample, a bit may be flipped by processor 208 every time button 108 ispressed and may be flipped back to its original state when button 108 isreleased.

Alternatively, processor 208 may monitor the current load in externaldevice 106 to determine if external device 106 is coupled to implantedinternal device 102 by monitoring the activity of button 108.Specifically, when button 108 is not pressed and external device 106 isnot being operated to drive driven magnet 202 of internal device 102,the current load is zero or at a minimal value. However, when button 108is pressed and external device 106 is being operated to drive drivenmagnet 202 of internal device 102, the current load in external device106 increases and reaches a particular level. Thus, the current loadinformation and the length of time the current load is at a particularlevel may be tracked by processor 208 and used to determine voidingfrequency and voiding volume.

In one embodiment, processor 208 may perform one or more calculations onthe raw data associated with the operation of internal device 102 andexternal device 106. Specifically, processor 208 may multiply the lengthof time (e.g., seconds) by the device flow rate (e.g., normally 15cc/second) to determine the voiding volume. Further, the processor 208may utilize the current load to obtain an estimated real-time flow ratevalue associated with the discharge of urine from the subject 104utilizing the medical apparatus. Specifically, the higher the load inthe external device 106 indicates a higher estimated real-time flow ratewhile a lower load in the external device indicates a lower estimatedreal-time flow rate. As such, the processor 208 may utilize a table (notshown), stored in memory 206, that correlates particular load values atthe external device with particular estimated real-time flow ratevalues. Accordingly, processor 208 may index into the table utilizingthe determine load value at the external device 106 of the medicalapparatus to obtain an estimated real-time flow rate value associatedwith the discharge of urine from the subject 104 utilizing the medicalapparatus. Furthermore, the processor 208 may calculate an estimatedaverage flow rate associated with the discharge of urine from thesubject 104 utilizing the medical apparatus. Specifically, the processormay determine the amount of time the subject 104 holds down the buttonand then divide the volume of urine discharged during a voiding sessionby the time to calculate the estimated average flow rate value.

In addition, processor 208 may adjust the calculated value in order toaccount for the fact that subject 104 may press button 108 for a longerperiod of time than necessary. The raw data and calculated values (i.e.,clinical data associated with the medical apparatus) may be stored inmemory 206.

Network adapter 210 may include the mechanical, electrical and signalingcircuitry needed to connect external device 106 to a docking station 214(i.e., base station) and a computing device 224 over a computer network240, which may include a point-to-point connection or a shared medium,such as a local area network. Illustratively, computer network 240 maybe embodied as an Ethernet network, a Fibre Channel (FC) network, or awireless network. External device 106 may communicate with dockingstation 214 and/or computing device 224 by exchanging discrete frames orpackets of data according to pre-defined protocols, such as theTransmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP). The packetsmay be encrypted and formatted in different ways, for example, to ensuresafe and reliable transmission over network 240, and to ensure that thetransmission of sensitive data complies with rules and regulations setby different governing bodies (e.g., Federal Government and the HealthInsurance Portability and Accountability Act). For example, the raw dataand/or calculated values may be sent from external device 106 overnetwork 240 to be stored in memory 218 of docking station 214 and/ormemory 228 and/or local storage 232 of computing device 224.

Docking station 214 (i.e., base station) includes a processor 216,memory 218, and one or more network adapters 220 interconnected by asystem interconnect 222, such as a bus. Docking station 214 may beutilized to power-up or charge battery 207 of external device 106, suchthat when subject 104 presses down button 108 of external device 106,there is enough power to cause drive magnet 204 of external device 106to rotate and interact with driven magnet 202 of internal device 102. Itis noted that docking station 214 may be plugged into an electricaloutlet utilizing a cord (not shown). In addition, external device 106may be directly coupled to docking station 214 to be charged by thedocking station 214, as known by those skilled in the art. Memory 218may include storage locations that are addressable by processor 216 andadapters for storing software program code and data. For example, memory218 may store the raw data and/or calculated values.

The processor and adapters may, in turn, include processing elementsand/or logic circuitry configured to execute the software code andmanipulate the data. In one embodiment, the raw data may be received bydocking station 214 from external device 106 over network 240, andprocessor 216 may perform the calculations on the raw data, as describedabove. Network adapter 220 may include the mechanical, electrical andsignaling circuitry needed to connect docking station 214 to externaldevice 106 and/or computing device 224 over computer network 240. Forexample, docking station 214 may transmit the raw data and/or calculatedvalues to computing device 224 for storage in memory 228 and/or localstorage 232.

Computing device 224 may be a computer, such as a server, that providesstorage service relating to the organization of information on localstorage 232, such as disks managed by the computing device. Computingdevice 224 may include a processor 226, memory 228, network adapter 230,local storage 232 and one or more storage adapters 234 connected by asystem interconnect 236, such as bus. Local storage 232 may include oneor more storage devices, such as disks, solid state disks (SSDs), adatabase, tape, etc., utilized to store data. For example, local storage232 may store the raw data and/or calculated values.

Memory 228 may include storage locations that are addressable by theprocessor and adapters for storing software program code and data. Forexample, the memory 228 may store the raw data and/or calculated values.Processor 226 and adapters 230 may, in turn, include processing elementsand/or logic circuitry configured to execute the software code andmanipulate the data structures. For example, processor 226 may receivethe raw data from the docking station 214 or the external device 106over computer network 240 and perform the calculations, as describedabove.

In addition, processor 226 may generate one or more reports, asdescribed below with reference to FIG. 3, utilizing the raw data and/orcalculated values. Reports 300 can be provided to a medical professional(e.g., physician, nurse) who can analyze the raw data and/or calculatedvalues to make one or more decisions and/or determinations. For example,the medical professional may utilize a mobile application executing on amobile phone, tablet, or other computer device (not shown) to access theraw data, calculated values, and/or generated report, wherein the mobileapplication is associated with computing device 224. In addition,processor 226 of computing device 224 may generate a notification thatis sent to the mobile application to notify the medical profession, forexample, that the generated report including the raw data and/orcalculated values is available for viewing and analysis.

The medical profession, for example, may utilize the mobile applicationto analyze the raw data and/or calculated values in the generated reportand may then instruct computing device 224 to send one or more signalsback to external device 106 and/or docking station 214. For example, themedical professional may determine that based on the analysis of the rawdata and/or calculated values in the generated report that subject 104is not voiding for a long enough period of time or is not voidingfrequently enough. Based on such analysis, and utilizing the mobileapplication, for example, the medical professional may instructprocessor 226 to send one or more signals over computer network 240 todocking station 214 and/or external device 106 to advise subject 104 toalter his voiding behavior by voiding more frequently or that a voidingsession should occur for a longer period of time. For example, thesignal may cause the docking station to sound an alarm every time thesubject 104 is to void, thus instructing the subject 104 to void morefrequently. In addition, the signal may cause a light to illuminate onthe external device 106 indicating that the user should hold down thebutton 108 during a voiding session for a longer period of time (e.g.,for the amount of time the light is illuminated).

Alternatively, the medical professional may utilize the mobileapplication (e.g., a graphical user interface of the mobile application)to input one or more predefined threshold values. If the raw data and/orcalculated values of the generated report meet these one or morepredefined threshold values, the one or more signals may be sent to theexternal device and/or docking station. Specifically, the raw dataand/or calculated data may indicate that the subject is voiding for along enough period of time (e.g., 10 seconds), but that if the subjectalters the manner in which he/she voids and operates the medicalapparatus and does not continue to void for the same period of time,that the one or more signals should be sent to the external device. Forexample, the medical professional may specify that if the voiding timeby the subject drops below a certain time threshold value (e.g., 8seconds) or calculated volume is below a volume threshold the one ormore signals should be sent to the external device and/or dockingstation. In addition, or alternatively, the medical professional mayspecify that if the estimated flow rate is not adequate, that the one ormore signals should be sent to the external device and/or dockingstation. Although reference is made to the utilization of a mobileapplication, it is expressly contemplated an application resident onmemory 228 of the computing device, or an application residing on adifferent computing device may be utilized.

Storage operating system 238, portions of which are typically residentin memory and executed by the processing elements, functionally invokesstorage operations executed by the storage system. It will be apparentto those skilled in the art that other processing and memory means,including various computer readable media, may be used for storing andexecuting program instructions pertaining to the technique describedherein. Also, while the subject matter herein is described in terms ofsoftware program code and computers, e.g., applications, programs storedin memory, the code/programs may alternatively be embodied as modulesconsisting of hardware, software, firmware or combinations thereof.Network adapter 230 may include the mechanical, electrical and signalingcircuitry needed to connect computing device 224 to external device 106and docking station 214 over computer network 240.

FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary report 300 that may be generated fromthe raw data and/or the calculated values for one or more embodimentsdescribed herein. In addition, report 300 may be generate based in dataprovided by subject 204. For example, subject 204 may utilize a mobileapplication executing on a mobile device of subject 204 to providerelevant information utilized to generate report 300. Such relevantinformation may include, but is not limited to, an urge subject 204 hasto urinate, leaks encountered by subject 204, the liquid intake bysubject 204, etc. Report 300 includes a plurality of fields thatinclude, but are not limited to fields for events 302, selections 304,calculations 306, and 24 hour data 308. The events 302 may include, forexample and as indicated in report 300, urges, leaks, fluids, andprompts. For example, urge event 302 may have a particular intensitylisted in the column for selections 304 that includes “mild”, “medium”,and “strong.” Specifically, a selection may be made to indicate that thesubject has a “mild” or “strong” urge/intensity to urinate. Morespecifically, the selection of a particular intensity for urge event 302may be selected based on the collected raw data and/or the calculatedvalues. The frequency and volume events 302 may correlate to thecalculated values, and the calculated values may be populated in thecalculations 306. The leaks events 302 may be associated with the amountor number of leaks the subject encountered in a given time span orperiod. In addition, other raw data and values may be stored in report300 as depicted in FIG. 3, such as the frequency and volume voidedduring a 24 hours period of time. It is expressly contemplated thatother data and or calculated values may be stored in generated report300 and those depicted in report 300 are simply exemplary.

A medical professional may access report 300 utilizing a mobileapplication or application stored on memory 228 of computing device 224.Report 300 may be utilized by the medical professional to analyze thevoiding behavior of the subject. In addition, the medical professionalmay determine based on report 300, for example, that one or more signalsare to be sent to docking station 214 and/or external device 106 tocause subject 104 to alter his voiding behavior as described above.Further, the medical profession may determine based on report 300, forexample, that clinical intervention is appropriate. Specifically, one ormore signals may be sent to the docking station 214 and/or externaldevice 106 indicating to subject 104 that he/she must see the medicalprofessional.

FIG. 4 illustrates a procedure for obtaining clinical data associatedwith a medical apparatus for one or more embodiments described herein.Procedure 400 starts at step 405 and continues to step 410 where theexternal device collects raw data. During voiding, processor 208 ofexternal device 106 collects raw data associated with the operation ofthe medical apparatus. For example, processor 208 may track the numberof times button 108 is pressed where the number of times is related ofthe voiding frequency. In addition, processor 208 may keep track of thelength of time the button 108 is pressed where the length of time isrelated of the voiding volume. This raw data may then be stored inmemory 206.

The procedure continues to step 415 in which processor 208 of externaldevice 106 performs one or more calculations on the collected raw data.Specifically, processor 208 may multiply the length of time (e.g.,seconds) by a nominal flow rate (e.g., 15 cc/second) to determine thevoiding volume. Further, the processor 208 may obtain an estimatedreal-time flow rate values (e.g., utilizing a table) based on the loaddetermined at the external device 106, as described above. Further, theprocessor 208 may calculate an estimated average flow rate value bydividing the volume of urine discharged during a voiding session by thetime the subject 104 holds down button 108, as described above. Inaddition, processor 208 may adjust the calculated value in order toaccount for the fact that the subject 104 may hold down the button for alonger period of time than necessary. The procedure continues to step420, where the raw data and/or the calculated values (i.e., clinicaldata) are transmitted to computing device 224 for storage. For example,raw data and/or calculated values may be transmitted from externaldevice 106 directly to computing device 224 over computer network 240.Alternatively, raw data and/or calculated values may first betransmitted to docking station 214 for storage (e.g., on memory 218),and then to computing device 224 for storage. The raw data and/orcalculated values may be stored on memory 228 of computing device 224and/or on local storage 232 coupled to computing device 224. Inaddition, it is noted that the raw data and/or calculated values may besent to computing device 224 together or independently. For example,after collecting the raw data and before performing the calculations,the raw data may be sent to the computing device 224 for storage, andthe calculated values may be sent to the computing device 224 forstorage after computation of the calculations.

The procedure continues to step 425 where one or more reports aregenerated from the raw data and/or calculated values. Specifically, areport 300 is generated by processor 226 of computing device 224 thatmay include information, such as that depicted in FIG. 3. Generation ofa report may cause processor 226 to generate a notification that istransmitted to a mobile application, for example, that is utilized bythe medical professional to access and analyze the report.

The procedure continues to step 430 where a determination is madewhether one or more signals should be sent to docking station 214 and/orexternal device 106. Specifically, the raw data, calculated valuesand/or information in the report may be compared with one or morepredefined threshold values. If the raw data, calculated values, orinformation meet the one or more predefined threshold values, the one ormore signals may be sent to docking station 214 and/or external device106. Alternatively, the medical professional may analyze the raw data,calculated values and/or generated report and determine that the one ormore signals should be sent to docking station 214 and/or externaldevice 106, for example, utilizing a mobile application or otherapplication.

If at step 430 it is determined that the one or more signals should besent to docking station 214 and/or external device 106, the procedurecontinues to step 435 and the one or more signals are sent fromcomputing device 224 to docking station 214 and/or external device 106over computer network 240 to alter the manner in which subject 104operates the medical apparatus. If it is determined that the one or moresignals should not be sent to docking station 214 and/or external device106 (e.g., the voiding behavior of the subject is appropriate), theprocedure ends at step 440.

FIG. 5 illustrates a procedure for obtaining clinical information for amedical apparatus for one or more embodiments described herein.Procedure 500 starts at step 505 and continues to step 510 whereexternal device 106 collects raw data as described above.

The procedure continues to step 515 and the raw data is transmitted tocomputing device 224 over computer network 240. Specifically, the rawdata may be transmitted from external device 106 directly to computingdevice 224 over computer network 240. Alternatively, the raw data may betransmitted first to docking station 214 for storage (e.g., on memory218), and then transmitted to computing device 224. The procedurecontinues to step 520 where processor 226 of computing device 224performs one or more calculations on the raw data as described above.The procedure continues to step 525 where the raw data and/or calculatedvalues are stored at computing device 224. For example, the raw dataand/or calculated values may be stored on memory 228 and/or localstorage 232.

The procedure continues to step 530 where one or more reports aregenerated from the raw data and/or calculated values. Generation of thereport may cause processor 226 to generate a notification that istransmitted to a mobile application, for example, that is utilized bythe medical profession to access and analyze the report.

The procedure continues to step 535 where a determination is madewhether one or more signals should be sent to docking station 214 and/orexternal device 106. If at step 535 it is determined that the one ormore signals should be sent to docking station 214 and/or externaldevice 106, the procedure continues to step 540 and the one or moresignals are sent from computing device 224 to docking station 214 and/orexternal device 106 over computer network 240 to alter the manner inwhich subject 104 operates the medical apparatus. If it is determinedthat the one or more signals should not be sent to docking station 214and/or external device 106 (e.g., the voiding behavior of the subject isappropriate), the procedure ends at step 545.

FIG. 6 illustrates a procedure for obtaining clinical information for amedical apparatus for one or more embodiments described herein.Procedure 600 starts at step 605 and continues to step 610 whereexternal device 106 collects raw data as described above.

The procedure continues to step 615 and the raw data is transmitted todocking station 214 over computer network 240. For example, the raw datamay be stored on memory 218 of docking station 214. The procedurecontinues to step 620 where processor 216 of docking station 214performs one or more calculations on the raw data as described above.The procedure continues to step 625 where the raw data and/or thecalculated values are transmitted from docking station 214 to computerdevice 224 over computer network 240 for storage. The raw data and/orcalculated values may be stored on memory 228 and/or on local storage232.

The procedure continues to step 630 where one or more reports aregenerated from the raw data and/or calculated values. Generation of thereport may cause processor 226 to generate a notification that istransmitted to a mobile application, for example, that is utilized bythe medical profession to access and analyze the report.

The procedure continues to step 635 where a determination is madewhether one or more signals should be sent to docking station 214 and/orexternal device 106. If at step 635 it is determined that the one ormore signals should be sent to docking station 214 and/or externaldevice 106, the procedure continues to step 640 and the one or moresignals are sent from computing device 224 to docking station 214 and/orexternal device 106 over computer network 240 to alter the manner inwhich the subject operates the medical apparatus. If it is determinedthat the one or more signals should not be sent to docking station 214and/or external device 106 (e.g., the voiding behavior of the subject isappropriate), the procedure ends at step 645.

The foregoing description described certain example embodiments. It willbe apparent, however, that other variations and modifications may bemade to the described embodiments, with the attainment of some or all oftheir advantages. Specifically, it is expressly contemplated that theone or more signals sent to the external device and/or docking stationmay indicate that the subject to alter the internal device or alter theoperation of the medial apparatus in a different manner. For example thesubject should hold the external device at a different position externalto the subject's body. In addition, a sensor (e.g., a hall sensor)within the external device, for example, may be utilized to detect themagnetic coupling of the internal device and internal device. Dataassociated with the sensor may then be utilized to obtain the raw dataand/or determine the calculated results. Accordingly, the foregoingdescription is to be taken only by way of example, and not to otherwiselimit the scope of the disclosure.

What is claimed is:
 1. A medical apparatus comprising: an internaldevice configured to be implanted within a subject, the internal deviceincluding a driven magnet; and an external device including a drivemagnet, a processor, and a memory, the drive magnet of the externaldevice configured to be magnetically coupled to the driven magnet of theinternal device, wherein the memory is coupled to the processor andwherein the processor is configured to: determine magnetic coupling ofthe drive magnet and the driven magnet and that the drive magnet of theexternal device is activated to magnetically rotate the driven magnet ofthe internal device, and collect data while the magnetic couplingoccurs, wherein the collection of the data is dependent on only themagnetic coupling of the drive magnet with the driven magnet of themedical apparatus.
 2. The medical apparatus of claim 1 wherein theprocessor is further configured to perform one or more calculationsutilizing the collected data.
 3. The medical apparatus of claim 1wherein the drive magnet is activated based on a button on the externaldevice being pressed.
 4. The medical apparatus of claim 1 wherein theexternal device is configured to receive one or more signals indicatingthat a voiding behavior of the subject is to be altered based on acomparison of the data with one or more threshold values.
 5. The medicalapparatus of claim 4 wherein the data includes one or more of (1) anumber of times of the magnetic coupling of the driven magnet and thedrive magnet, or (2) a length of time of the magnetic coupling.
 6. Themedical apparatus of claim 1 wherein the processor is further configuredto transmit the data to a computing device over a computer network,wherein the computing device includes a computing processor configuredto perform one or more calculations utilizing the data to producecalculated values.
 7. The medical apparatus of claim 6 wherein thecomputing processor is further configured to generate one or morereports based on at least one of the data and the calculated values. 8.The medical apparatus of claim 7 wherein the computing processor isfurther configured to generate one or more alerts indicating that theone or more reports are available for viewing by a medical professional,wherein the one or more alerts are transmitted to a mobile applicationexecuting on a mobile device used by the medical professional.
 9. Themedical apparatus of claim 1 wherein the processor is further configuredto transmit the data to a docking station over a computer network,wherein the docking station includes a docking station processorconfigured to perform one or more calculations the utilizing the data.10. A computing device, comprising: a processor of the computing device;and a memory of the computing device coupled to the processor, theprocessor configured to: receive, over a computer network, data from anexternal device of a medical apparatus, the external device having adrive magnet magnetically coupled to a driven magnet of an internaldevice of the medical apparatus, wherein the internal device isconfigured to be implanted within a subject, wherein the data iscollected while magnetic coupling of the drive magnet with the drivenmagnet and the collection of the data is dependent on only the magneticcoupling, and perform one or more calculations utilizing the data toproduce calculated values.
 11. The computing device of claim 10 whereinthe drive magnet of the external device is activated based on anactivation of a button on the external device to rotate the drivenmagnet of the internal device.
 12. The computing device of claim 11wherein the processor is configured to transmit, over the computernetwork and to the external device, one or more signals indicating thata voiding behavior of the subject is to be altered based on a comparisonof the data with one or more threshold values.
 13. The computing deviceof claim 12 wherein the data includes one or more of (1) a number oftimes of the magnetic coupling of the driven magnet and the drivemagnet, or (2) a length of time of the magnetic coupling.
 14. Thecomputing device of claim 10 wherein the processor is further configuredto generate one or more reports based on at least one of the data andthe calculated values.
 15. The computing device of claim 10 wherein theprocessor is further configured to transmit one or more signals over thecomputer network to the external device, where the one or more signalsindicate that an operation of the medical apparatus is to be altered.16. The computing device of claim 10 wherein the processor is furtherconfigured to transmit one or more signals over the computer network toa docking station of the external device based on a comparison of thedata to one or more threshold values, where the one or more signalsindicate that an operation of the medical apparatus is to be altered.17. A method, comprising: determining, by a processor of an externaldevice of a medical apparatus, that a drive magnet of the externaldevice is activated, wherein the drive magnet is magnetically coupled toa driven magnet of an internal device of the medical apparatus, whereinthe internal device is configured to be implanted within a subject; inresponse to determining that the drive magnet is activated, collecting,by a processor of the external device, data associated with an operationof the medical apparatus, wherein the collection of the data isdependent on only a magnetic coupling of the drive magnet with thedriven magnet; and storing, within a memory of the external device, thedata; and transmitting, over a computer network, the data from theexternal device to a computing device.
 18. The method of claim 17,wherein the computing device performs one or more calculations utilizingthe data to produce one or more calculated values.
 19. The method ofclaim 17 further comprising receiving, at the external device from thecomputing device, one or more signals indicating that a voiding behaviorof the subject is to be altered based on a comparison of the data withone or more threshold values.
 20. The method of claim 19 wherein thedata includes one or more of (1) a number of times of the magneticcoupling of the driven magnet and the drive magnet, or (2) a length oftime of the magnetic coupling.